Rapid-Response Grant Program Launches In

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Expedited grants from $10,000-$25,000 to address unforeseen, time-critical needs for Connecticut’s nonprofit organizations

Rapid-Response Grants are designed to address unanticipated, time-sensitive financial gaps that cannot be met through CHEFA’s annual grant programs. The identified challenge or pressing issue must be such that failure to address it in a timely manner would have a compounding negative effect on programming, services, or capital assets and would prevent the organization from fulfilling its mission. The streamlined application process aims to fund awarded proposals within 30 business days from initial outreach, with an expectation that grant funds will be spent within 120 days of award.

General Guidelines

    • Awards are one-time funding and are subject to funding availability

    • Eligible expenses must be directly tied to addressing an urgent, unforseen need that threatens service continuity
    • Grant funds may not be used to pay for expenses that are covered by insurance
    • Applicants must have no unresolved compliance issues or outstanding documentation requirements related to previous CHEFA funding
    • A Rapid-Response Grant award does not impact an organization’s eligibility for other CHEFA grant programs

CHEFA will not fund:

    • Reimbursement of costs already incurred

    • Needs that were foreseeable 

    • Situations resulting from the malfeasance or wrongdoing of the organization
    • Programs or activities not directly related to the identified time-sensitive need
    • Capital campaigns, endowments, or long-term facility construction projects
    • Multi-year commitments or ongoing general operating support
    • Debt repayment
    • Indirect costs

Please review the full guidelines document linked below before contacting CHEFA to discuss a Rapid-Response Grant proposal.

FY 2027 Rapid-Response Grant Program Guidelines
All grant awards are subject to funding availability and the CHEFA Board of Directors reserves the right to award less than an applicant’s requested amount.

To access CHEFA’s Grants Management System, Click Here.

Please contact the Grants Program Manager for more information at grants@chefa.com.